FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[formerd3db]

I forgot to add one comment (I wanted to post my typed stats before I accidentally got "kicked" off the log in site since I didn't do it for "unlimited" time, but rather the one hour limit ).  Anyway, what I wanted to also add is that having smaller capacity stadiums does help in the "psychological" department at least for scenary in that with decent crowds, it just looks better when the stadium is near or more full as opposed to having a huge stadium and a "dinky" crowd.  For that reason, IMO, the small colleges need to build stadiums with that in mind according to their usual and reasonable yearly avg home attendance figures.  A nice small stadium with individual seating, all the new aspects and other ammenities is just as nice.

[formerd3db]

Additional:

I belive that Hope would have averaged more than 3,000 fans per game were it not for the Alma game.  The latter, which drew only 900 obviously brought the average down when you look at the attendance figures.  However, it was the last game of the season due to the rescheduling resulting from the campus closedown from the virus, it was a meaningless game per se (except with respect to the seniors) and it was extremely cold and snowy.  The latter is okay, I guess, when your team is involved in the playoffs, but for a season ending game in the context of some of the above parameters, not too many fans are going to come out and endure the inclement/cold weather other than parents, college administrators, some die-hard students and fans!

[Stinger]

Nice analysis D306.  I thought that Marian was an NAIA Mid-States program that offered football scholarships - I could be wrong however.  Their coach (Kerras) is a former Northwestern player, former Head Coach at Rose Hulman and also the nephew of Alex K of Detroit Lions fans.

This is correct. And former K men's basketball coach, Joe Haklin,  is the Marian Athletic Director.

[formerd3db]

Thanks for the reminder, Stinger.  I had totally forgotten that Haklin had left Kazoo for Marian after his long career at the former.  Remember also, as I recall, he was an assistant football coach at Kazoo after he stepped down as bb coach there before he left for Marian, as you know.

BTW, have you heard through the rumor mill and/or via your own sources any news about Kazoo's fb recruiting so far?

[D306]

I am thinking that many of the teams are starting "spring ball" in the next couple weeks.

Excited to hear some comments and thoughts.

Hoping to see if Albion QB Krauss is healthy, prior to serious knee injury senior year in HS, Krauss had several D1 offers as well as Ivy League options. Choose Albion for proximity and the Gerstacker Institute resources. He was red shirted in 08 due to injury. Above average student and athlete.

UofM held up their end in NCAA hoping to see a long run for MSU, and some more Big Ten wins.

[formerd3db]

Not heard much as yet D306.  With Hope just returning yesterday from Spring Break (baseball team returning from Florida trip/games), things will start to get back into action with lacrosse resuming, football practices soon to follow.

BTW, as I'm sure most of you have now seen, Colorado College dropped football.  That is sad news as it was a storied program (see my post over on the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference board regarding this).  With tight economic times, it wouldn't surprise me that some of the smaller DIII schools are going to face some tough choices regarding their athletic programs. 

[RFMichigan]

Not heard much as yet D306.  With Hope just returning yesterday from Spring Break (baseball team returning from Florida trip/games), things will start to get back into action with lacrosse resuming, football practices soon to follow.

BTW, as I'm sure most of you have now seen, Colorado College dropped football.  That is sad news as it was a storied program (see my post over on the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference board regarding this).  With tight economic times, it wouldn't surprise me that some of the smaller DIII schools are going to face some tough choices regarding their athletic programs. 

I just saw that Colorado College dropped their program and it wouldn't surprise me to see other programs in the nation following suit. (I wrote about this in the Northern Athletic Conference board more extensively) It seems that CC has some other major factors at work in their athletic department:
     1) They're funding a dI hockey prgram at a cost of $1 million per year.
     2) Their closest football conference rival was 600 miles away and they therefore had to fly to all their away games. Yikes!

I told this news to my brother whose son was being recruited by a DII school in the Mountain Time zone, and he was shocked to hear that CC was the only football playing school in that time zone.

[Pat Coleman]

In Division III, yes.

[D306]

CC having to travel that much and I am sure Title IX probably came into play.
Too bad they could not have enough interest to be a D1 were they had local competition. Admittedly this would only increase the cost.
Funny how they can be D1 in Hockey as it is thought of as a smaller sport in interest, goes to show what can be supported if there is interest.

I am sure there will be more DIII teams to be in trouble, the economy and the cost of DIII schools will reduce the number of DIII students and monies available.

[formerd3db]

RFMichigan and D306:

Pat has already pointed out the "time zone" aspect applying to DIII.  Yet, the Colorado School of the Mines, Northern Colorado and Mesa State are in the Mountain time zone since those schools are in Colorado.  However, they are DII football programs, with the exception of Northern Colorado which went DIAA (oops, I mean FCS ).  IMO, if CC had made a decision to continue football, their better option would have been to go to DII or DIAA, since there are more programs at those levels in their region.  Obviously, though, going that route would have increased costs via scholarships, of which $ was the issue/problem as has been told already.  Remember also, that CC had used to be a major football program just a few decades ago, but began to deemphasize their program back in the 1960's.  If you have ever seen their published football history (I have) it is very interesting (at least in the "old days" and including the 1920's - late 1950's, early 1960's).  As someone noted on one of the other boards, their stadium Washburn (which used to be huge and is set into the hillside on campus) is one of the oldest in that region (1898 I believe).  You might recall also, that just in the early 1990's, they have very good success with two current Albion coaches being the head coaches there, so that is just another reason why it is sad to see them drop the program.

As far as the Title IX issue, as has been mentioned on one of the other boards already, I don't believe that was an issue since women's softball was dropped as well.  I am glad they play DI hockey as that is a neat situation, but IMO, dropping football is a mistake.  They could raise the $ easily if they really wanted to.  I only point to Michigan Tech, which as many of you will recall, was going to drop their historic football program in the early 2000's, yet their supporters, fans, boosters, etc., raised $3 million in about 3 months to save the program and have now developed a sustaining program for that.  Then they had that 51,000 attendance at the game with Grand Valley about 4 years ago at U of Mich stadium.  So, even though it may have cost CC $ to continue the program at DII, I find it hard to believe that it wouldn't have been less $ as compared to their overall travel costs and, again, I it is my understanding they have a fair amount of alumni who could contribute to sustain the program if they wanted to (of course, we were not informed of the process and/or more in-depth details as to just how they made the unfortunate decision to drop football).

Bottom line, IMO, is that if school's really want to save their football programs if this becomes an increasing issue for the smaller DIII schools, there is still a way to do that - it is not impossible.  Unfortunately, not all the administrations are interested in doing that - IMO, many want to take the easy way out - it is always easier to drop a program (regardless if it is sports or otherwise) - then again, that's the way many in our society act in today's era, which is unfortunate.  Oh, sorry, I'll get off my "soap box" now.   Anyway, thanks for the interesting discussion friends - especially since we needed some further "spring" activity on this board!

[sac]

CC having to travel that much and I am sure Title IX probably came into play.

This is totally an aside but I was flabergasted and then some to hear there were two members of a local school board who didn't know what title IX was.

[formerd3db]

CC having to travel that much and I am sure Title IX probably came into play.

This is totally an aside but I was flabergasted and then some to hear there were two members of a local school board who didn't know what title IX was.

Good grief, that is absurd on their part.   Actually, it is more than that as it is simply unacceptable that people in those positions do not have a clue.  Perhaps that is one of the reasons (albeit small and obviously not the main reasons ) why our school districts are having problems in many areas.   I suppose I could make some speculative opinions as to why they didn't know about this, however,...it's probably best I just leave this as is.  Anyway, sac, thanks for tonight's good tongue-in-cheek laugh!:P

[D306]

Albion starts spring practice April 1st Wednesday.

Some kind of cruel joke by the coachs?

Actually scheduled to start Last Sunday but the snow and sleet lead them to delay until Wednesday let weather and field improve.

Does anyone know if any teams are taking a spring game overseas this year. In the current financial situaction that would be a tough game to sell to some families to pay for their son's trip.

Tigers Good move letting Sheffield go, get a better fielder and speed out there. Have to play these young guys and build some kind of future.
Pitching staff will be the issue again this year.

[formerd3db]

Please excuse this cross-posting, however, I just wanted to mention that Hope College continued its unbelievable lacrosse season so far when it defeated Saginaw Valley State University last evening 21-5!  For those interested, you can read my post over on the lacrosse boards (DIII club team link).  A tremendous accomplishment for Hope.

Anyway, I hope all of you have a blessed and enjoyable Easter weekend with your family and friends for those who hold that holiday.

[LetItRain]

I have no idea what it takes to launch a D3 lacrosse program, but why doesn't Hope move from a club team to a D3 team like Adrian and Trine?  It would be great to have more MIAA/local teams with actual D3 lacrosse programs to compete against.